De Brazza’s Monkey
De Brazza’s Monkey
Cercopithicus neglectus
De Brazza’s monkeys spend their days foraging for fruit and socializing with others in their family group. Their digestive tracts, which are a lot like humans, make it hard for them to find nourishment in tough forest materials such as leaves and bark. Wary of other primates but sociable among their own kind, De Brazza’s monkeys forage in the forest using long limbs and tail to move from tree to tree. When threatened, they camouflage themselves by curling into a ball with their white parts hidden.
Interesting Facts
- This species of monkey chases off others that enter their territory – except for colobus monkeys. The two species’ digestive tracts are different, so they eat different foods and can coexist peacefully.
- De Brazza’s monkeys can swim.
- De Brazza’s monkeys weigh 9-17 pounds and are 16-25 inches in length – with a 3.5 - 5 foot tail!
- De Brazza’s may live up to 22 years in the wild, and up to 30 years in zoos.
- De Brazza’s monkeys are named for Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, a famous Frenchman who explored Africa in the late 1800s.